Newcastle United tried and failed to sign Timo Werner during the summer transfer window, and now he is on fire with RB Leipzig.
The 26-year-old was heavily linked with a move to St James’ Park during the off-season. He was no longer wanted at Chelsea, having endured a tough few years in the Premier League.
But Newcastle were reportedly keen to give Werner a second chance in England. At the time, Eddie Howe was scrambling for a striker, with the Magpies struggling to sign someone to compete with Callum Wilson.
Werner was an intriguing option, but his services were impossible to secure.
The Athletic claimed that he would prefer to move back to Germany, with former club RB Leipzig interested in a reunion.
And that is exactly what happened. Chelsea sold Werner back to Leipzig for just £25million. While that is a lot of money, it is almost half of what the Blues paid for him in 2020.
Werner is now back in the Bundesliga, and showing why Newcastle were keen to snap him up.
Timo Werner on fire back in Germany
The German forward has made 13 appearances since returning to RB Leipzig. And he has shown a real return to form.
He has so far managed to score seven goals and provide four assists. His latest contribution came on Tuesday night, scoring and setting one up in the 2-0 win over Celtic in Glasgow.
With 11 goal contributions already, Werner truly is back on form. He is looking like the player Chelsea thought they had signed two years ago.
And he is showing Newcastle what they could have won. Werner would have been a good fit on Tyneside. Howe wanted a forward who can play through the middle and out wide, and Werner ticks that box.
His pace also makes him ideal for a pressing side, which is exactly what the Magpies have become.
And at £25million, he was well within Newcastle’s price range. But instead he went back to Leipzig, and the Toon owners had to fork out for Alexander Isak.
There is hope he will become a superstar at St James’ Park, and the early signs are positive.
But perhaps the same can be said for Werner, who Newcastle tried and failed to sign. Or perhaps he’s just more suited to Germany than England…
Receive a digest of our best Newcastle content each week direct to your mailbox
